Top 10 Shocking Sons of Anarchy Moments
#10: Removing Kyle’s Tattoo “Giving Back”
By the show’s fifth episode, you were either in or you were out. Because that’s when the violence really ramped up. Former SAMCRO member Kyle Hobart only appeared in one episode, but he left an indelible impression. Before the show started, Kyle was excommunicated from SAMCRO after leaving Opie at the scene of a crime. After returning to see Charlie’s band, the club learns that Kyle hasn’t removed his SAMCRO back tattoo. So they give him some alcohol, make their way to a body shop, and see to its removal. While the show largely spares us the more graphic details, our imagination fills in the rest.
#9: Hale’s End “SO”
“Sons of Anarchy” had a penchant for surprising and unpredictable deaths, and David Hale’s is certainly among them. Charming’s Chief of Police David Hale served as the primary antagonist of the first season, and sort-of antagonist for the second, owing to his studious adherence to law and order. However, he is unceremoniously killed in a drive-by shooting during the third season premiere. It was shocking to see such an important character killed in such an abrupt and cursory manner, as it felt like Hale’s story was nowhere near complete. Series creator Kurt Sutter explained that actor Tayler Sheridan wanted to move on to other things; and Sheridan indeed went on to script movies like “Sicario” and” “Hell or High Water.” So that explains it…
#8: Tig Accidentally Kills Donna “The Sleep of Babies”
Top 10 Darkest Moments on Sons of Anarchy
Donna Winston was the reluctant wife of Opie, pretty much the fan favorite character. Donna harbored resentment for SAMCRO after Opie was sent to prison, and often contemplated leaving him and the club. Unfortunately, she is caught in the crossfire, quite literally, during Agent Stahl’s play on the club. Stahl repeatedly attempted to recruit Opie into working as an informant, and Clay mistakenly believed that Opie had flipped. He subsequently ordered his execution, and recruited Tig to carry out the hit. Unfortunately, Donna is driving her husband’s truck on the night of his planned execution, causing Tig to accidentally murder her instead. It was a horrific act of violence, and it proved that no one was safe from the dangerous whims and machinations of the club.
#7: Don’t Eat That Chili “Family Recipe”
Top 10 Family Guy Moments That Shocked Everyone
No one ever said that “Sons of Anarchy” was tasteful television. Kurt Sutter leaned into the more ridiculous and outrageous aspects of the show from time to time, resulting in the bizarre moment in season four involving a head and a pot of chili. In the episode Family Recipe, the club is attacked by the cartel and given a particularly graphic gift. When the police later visit the clubhouse, Chuck Marstein is forced to take matters into his own hands and dispose of the incriminating evidence that the cartel had left behind. It’s certainly one of the more grotesque sequences of the entire show, but the hilarious back and forth between Chuck and Gemma certainly lightens the proceedings.
#6: Son of Anarchy Takes Out Mom of Anarchy “Red Rose”
Top 10 Shocking Deaths in Sons of Anarchy
It wouldn’t be “Sons of Anarchy” without some matricide! Gemma had long been the main controlling force of the club, and this was ramped up to an insane degree in the seventh season. Wishing to cover up her involvement and guilt in Tara’s death, Gemma lies to Jax, who proceeds to wage war against Henry Lin and the Chinese. But when he learns the truth from Juice, he hunts his mother down in Oregon and kills both her and Unser. We figured that Jax would discover the truth eventually and take revenge, but we didn’t expect the scene itself to be so heartbreaking. Jax holding back tears and Gemma asking to be killed in her garden is just a little too much to handle.
#5: Clay Meets His End “Aon Rud Persanta”
Before the matricide there was patricide. Well, step-patricide, but the point still stands. “Sons of Anarchy” has been called the “Hamlet of Harleys,” and the show contains many allusions, both obvious and subtle, to Shakespeare’s masterpiece. One of the more obvious is the role of Clay Morrow as King Claudius, as he conspired to murder Jax’s father and susbequently married his mother. And much like Claudius, his death was a long time coming.Regardless of its predictability, a major character’s death always makes for thrilling and gripping television. His disgusting villainy aside, it was still bittersweet to see Clay go - especially in such a ruthless and brutal manner.
#4: Otto Ensures Silence “J’ai Obtenu Cette”
Played by series creator Kurt Sutter, Otto was an incarcerated member of SAMCRO who gets himself into trouble in the show’s fifth season. After he murders Pamela Toric, Otto is viciously beaten by her brother, Lee. Following the beating, Otto is placed in an interrogation room and questioned while Lee watches from behind the glass. Rather than answering questions, Otto ensures his silence in the most unexpected and graphic manner possible. As was stated before, Sutter isn’t afraid of leaning into the extreme, and here he quite literally leans into the extreme! “Sons of Anarchy” is full of disgusting moments, but it doesn’t get much more disgusting than this.
#3: Tara’s Shocking Fate “A Mother’s Work”
Top 20 Greatest Tara Strong Voice Roles
And here we come to the grisly action that resulted in Gemma’s downfall and eventual demise. At the end of season six, Jax turns himself in to the DA in exchange for Tara’s immunity - an act of love and sacrifice that ensured the survival of his immediate family. Unfortunately, it does the exact opposite. Gemma brutally murders Tara, as she doesn’t know about Jax’s plan and believes that Tara is flipping on the club. Not only is Tara’s death completely unexpected, but the hideous manner in which it’s conducted made us fear Gemma and her unbridled wrath. This was a major turning point for the story and Gemma’s character, and it couldn’t have been done in a more surprising or macabre fashion.
#2: Opie’s Time Is Up “Laying Pipe”
Poor Opie Winston was the primary punching bag of the show’s earlier seasons. The dude led a truly sad and tragic life. And it all came to a devastating conclusion in season five. Despite successfully getting out, Opie returns to the club and immediately goes to prison after punching the Sheriff as he’s arresting various members. While in prison, Jax is ordered to choose a sacrifice to ensure the release of everyone else. Wishing to spare Jax the decision, Opie volunteers by headbutting a prison guard. The ensuing fight is both brutally violent and sorrowful, and we can only watch along with the other Sons as Opie makes his heroic and noble final stand. And when Jax cries, we cry with him. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Jax Punishes Wendy “Darthy” Juice Attacks Miles “With an X” Neutering “Fun Town” An Eye for an Eye “Greensleeves” Clubhouse Explosion “The Mad King”
#1: Poor Dawn Trager “Sovereign”
“Sons of Anarchy” isn’t afraid to show violence and torture its characters. And sometimes it veers into utter depravity. Such is the case with Tig’s estranged daughter, Dawn. In the first act of the season four finale, Tig kills Veronica Pope, the daughter of psychotic drug kingpin Damon Pope. In retaliation, Damon kidnaps Dawn and conducts what is arguably the most sickening act of violence in the entire show. But it’s not just the violence - it’s the context of the entire scene. The building anxiety, Tig’s desperation and heartbreaking sorrow, Dawn’s hopeless cries for help - it’s all devastating, and it all coalesces into a truly sickening and disturbing sequence.
